SL Boys’ Basketball: Quarterfinal Preview, old school rivalries set for new chapters
Nativity's Trey Keating at the free throw line (Photo by Eli Doyle).
Who is ready for some madness at the Mecca?
There are playoff games, and then there are these playoff games — the kind that feel familiar before the opening tip, where the jerseys, the chants, and the names on the backs have been part of the local basketball vocabulary for years. Today at Martz Hall delivers two of them.
Four teams begin the league-title chase knowing two important truths: winning still matters a great deal, and losing does NOT end the season.
With every Schuylkill League playoff program contender qualified for district play, the urgency is about positioning, county pride, and certainly momentum — not necessarily survival.
That distinction doesn’t make the games any easier. If anything, it frees teams to play sharper, faster, and with a little less fear.
The Battle of the Hills
This rivalry doesn’t need marketing.
Pottsville vs. Nativity tends to sell itself somewhere between the parking lot and the first defensive stop.
Nativity’s offense starts — and very often ends — with Trey Keating, the kind of scorer who makes opposing coaches reach for a pencil before the first timeout. Keating has spent the season putting up points in bunches, creating shots off the dribble, and shouldering the responsibility of late-clock possessions. When Nativity is comfortable, Keating is attacking; when things tighten, he’s still attacking — just with more urgency.
Pottsville counters with balance and patience, and at the center of that approach is Christian Alvarez, who has largely become one of the Crimson Tide’s most reliable pieces in the last few seasons. Alvarez does a little of everything: steady scoring, strong on-ball defense, and the kind of decision-making that keeps Pottsville from beating itself. He’s rarely rushed, rarely rattled, and rarely far from the ball when it matters most.
That dynamic — Keating’s volume and creativity versus Alvarez’s control and efficiency — may define the flow of the game. If Nativity can speed things up and let Keating play in space, the Hilltoppers becomes dangerous. If Pottsville keeps possessions deliberate and forces Nativity into half-court defense, the Tide’s depth and discipline start to show.
A battle between first-year head coaches, Pottsville’s Tyler Heffner isn’t afraid to go to his depth. The Tide run nearly 10 players, sometimes more, as they have bodies to run the floor for what feels like days, even weeks. Andrew Allen, Colin McGinley, JuJu Bainbridge and Max Clews and more can hop right in the lineup for the Crimson Tide and not miss a beat.
On the flip side, Brady Burke in his first campaign as Nativity boys’ coach feels like they’ve figured out the combination that works best for the Toppers. Beyond the starting five, George Shimko, Marc Lutzkanin and Jake Swartz round out the bench for a squad that has been tested all season long.
This one won’t lack physicality, and it won’t lack history. Someone will win; someone will regroup for districts — but neither side will forget it by Monday morning.
Winner advances to face Tri Valley (20-2) in the semifinals on Wednesday.
South Schuylkill Supremacy
The nightcap pairs two teams that arrived here through very different paths but with similar expectations.
Schuylkill Haven brings balance across the lineup, with multiple scoring options and guards capable of managing long stretches of pressure. The Hurricanes thrive when the game becomes possession-oriented, using ball movement and disciplined defense to wear teams down rather than overwhelm them quickly.
Blue Mountain, forged by the Division 1 schedule, is comfortable playing through contact and adversity. The Eagles have leaned on athleticism, rebounding, and defensive versatility, traits that often become magnified in postseason play. Their ability to defend multiple positions and control the glass could dictate how much freedom Schuylkill Haven’s guards find offensively.
Schuylkill Haven’s confidence starts with Alan Evans, whose presence alone forces defenses to stretch and react. But the Hurricanes aren’t built to lean on one player. When attention shifts, Justin Watcher thrives in the space that opens, attacking momentum and forcing tough decisions.
Inside and out, Max Heim provides stability, the kind of player who settles possessions when things get hectic. Brady Kelly brings edge and toughness, while Bradyn Diehl has a knack for making the right play at the right moment, even when the gym is buzzing.
That’s what makes Haven dangerous — not just who scores, but how many players expect to matter when the game tightens.
Blue Mountain answers with a lineup that’s comfortable playing through contact and pressure. Tyeirre Meade sets the tone with his physicality and willingness to take on responsibility when possessions matter most. Cohen Werner and Evan Setlock provide balance and control, while Cohen Kirby and Sean Gaddy bring energy and presence that can swing momentum without ever forcing it. Beck Henninger provides another scoring threat off the bench.
This is a group that understands spacing, timing, and the value of patience. When the game threatens to speed up, Blue Mountain has players who know how to slow it back down — and aren’t afraid to absorb pressure to do it.
This matchup may come down to efficiency. Schuylkill Haven wants clean looks and limited turnovers; Blue Mountain wants second chances and transition opportunities. Neither team needs to force the issue, but both understand that small runs can swing postseason games in a hurry.
The reward is a semifinal meeting with Minersville (21-1), the Division 1 champion, a team that has been waiting patiently — and watching closely.
Schuylkill League Boys’ Basketball Playoff Preview Capsules
Pottsville (16-6) vs. Nativity (11-11)
When: Today (Feb. 7), 5 p.m.
Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville
TV/Radio: Game will be simulcast on both WPPA (1360 AM / 105.9 FM) and T-102 (101.9 FM) with Chaz Hepler and Ty Wartman on the call.
Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now reporter Eli Doyle on X @IamEliDoyle and get score updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page.
Tickets: All tickets for the Schuylkill League playoffs will be cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There will NOT be a Senior Citizen discount.
Up Next: Winner faces Division II champion Tri-Valley in Schuylkill League semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Martz Hall
About Pottsville
Head coach: Tyler Heffner
How they got here: Finished as Division I runner-up with 12-2 record
Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 57 ppg; Defense, ~ 50 ppg
Projected starting five: F Christian Alvarez, sr. (17.5 ppg, 27 3-pt FG), F Ryder Bowers, sr. (11 ppg, 62 3-pt FG), C Davey Kunstek, sr. (9.8 ppg), G Chris Hobbs, jr. (5.5 ppg, 21 3-pt FG), G Josh Kimber, jr. (3.4 ppg)
Key reserves: G/F Colin McGinley, jr. (3.1 ppg, 15 3-pt FG), G Andrew Allen, jr., F/C JuJu Bainbridge, sr., G Brody Herndon, sr., F/C Max Clews, jr., F/C Brandon Viars, sr.
About Nativity
Head coach: Brady Burke
How they got here: Finished as Division II third place with 8-6 record
Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 62 ppg; Defense, ~ 61 ppg
Projected starting five: G Trey Keating, sr. (29.1 ppg, 95 3-pt FG), G Jake Bowman, jr. (7.4 ppg, 30 3-pt FG), G Layne Pasker, jr. (8.2 ppg), G Marc Lutzkanin, jr. (3 ppg), F Nick Clarke, jr. (9.1 ppg, 14 3-pt FG)
Key reserves: Owen Holley, so (3.9 ppg), F George Shimko, sr., G Jake Swartz, jr. (3.8 ppg, 14 3-pt FG)
Game Notes
Pottsville and Nativity are opposites by styles — The Tide favor disciplined half-court execution, while the Hilltoppers thrive on opportunistic scoring. Nativity’s Trey Keating has been a focal point all season and will demand attention early whenever he catches rhythm. Pottsville’s senior leadership and balanced rotation should control tempo, but Nativity’s late comebacks this season show they can respond when the pressure rises. This one may hinge on early defensive stops and which team can impose its style first.
Schuylkill Haven (15-7) vs. Blue Mountain (15-7)
When: Today (Feb. 7), 6:30 p.m.
Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville
TV/Radio: Game will be simulcast on both WPPA (1360 AM / 105.9 FM) and T-102 (101.9 FM) with Chaz Hepler and Ty Wartman on the call.
Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now reporter Eli Doyle on X @IamEliDoyle and get score updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page.
Tickets: All tickets for the Schuylkill League playoffs will be cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There will NOT be a Senior Citizen discount.
Up Next: Winner faces Division I champion Minersville in Schuylkill League semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Martz Hall
About Schuylkill Haven
Head coach: Fran Murphy
How they got here: Finished as Division II runner-up with 9-5 record
Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 66 ppg; Defense, ~ 57 ppg
Projected starting five: G Alan Evans, jr. (21.2 ppg), G Brady Kelly, jr. (10 ppg), G Bradyn Diehl, so. (7.5 ppg), G/F Justin Watcher, jr. (19.4 ppg), F Max Heim, sr. (14.3 ppg)
Key reserves: G/F Matthew Lucus, jr.
About Blue Mountain
